Hojlund hasn't scored in 19 games for United and is in a torrid patch of form
Amorim's side now face the test of title-chasing Arsenal at Old Trafford
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By WILL CASTLE
Published: 12:30 EDT, 9 March 2025 | Updated: 12:56 EDT, 9 March 2025
Ruben Amorim has opened up on why he has decided to drop Rasmus Hojlund to the bench ahead of Manchester United's clash against Arsenal.
Hojlund hasn't enjoyed the run of the green since Amorim's Old Trafford arrival in November and is without a Premier League goal since mid-December, where he bagged in a 3-2 loss to Nottingham Forest.
The £72million man has thus accrued his fair share of critics, with some branding him as one of the least value-for-money signings in recent memory.
With just two leagues strikes to his name this term, Amorim has made the decision to drop the Dane amid his 19-game goal drought.
However, the Portuguese boss has insisted that form is not the reason behind his benching.
'No, it’s freshness,' he said. 'I think he was really fatigued at the end of the game. And we tried different things.
Ruben Amorim has dropped Rasmus Hojlund to the bench for today's clash against Arsenal
Hojlund hasn't netted for United in 19 games, last scoring in the Premier League in December
Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee (left) have been amongst a litany of under-performers at United
'We know that the opposition, the two centre-backs, what they want, what they like. And we tried to do different things to surprise the opponent.'
Hojlund played the full 90 minutes as United took on Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie last week.
It was the Dane's strike partner that bagged the Red Devils' one and only goal, with Joshua Zirkzee catching the Sociedad stopper out to give United the lead in Spain.
However, a handball against Bruno Fernandes gave the hosts the chance to equalise from the spot - an opportunity gleefully taken up by Mikel Oyarzabal, who slotted past Andre Onana to put things on terms going into the second leg in Manchester.
United, who are dwindling in 15th in the table, now face the test of title chasing Arsenal - who despite lacking a striker showed off their scoring prowess in the Champions League on Tuesday, firing seven against PSV.
The Gunners make the trip to Old Trafford, a stadium once considered a fortress but is now hardly that, with Man United's home form being something of grim reading for Amorim.
While they scraped past relegation-threatened Ipswich last time out in the league, they have suffered home defeats to the likes of Crystal Palace, Brighton and most recently Fulham in the FA Cup, all since the new year.
While a mammoth fixture regardless of current form, United will have to produce a shock to come out as victors against Mikel Arteta's side if they look to leap back above fallen giants Tottenham, who came from two behind to salvage a point against Bournemouth earlier today.